Moving to Madagascar from Nigeria

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Nigeria to Madagascar — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Nigeria to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nigeria to Madagascar.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
MG
22.5

Nigeria performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
MG
1.8

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
MG
0.1t

Madagascar performs significantly better than Nigeria across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
MG
11.3%

Nigeria generally does better on infrastructure, though Madagascar leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
MG
$1,700

Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
MG
39.0

Madagascar performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Antananarivo
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria and Madagascar. To live, work, or study long-term in Madagascar, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Madagascar's immigration authority.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Nigeria passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.
Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Madagascar passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Madagascar?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Madagascar has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

Nigeria performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Nigeria?

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Nigeria, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

NG MG
Population 225,082,083 28,172,462
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages English French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +234 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112